Tom Jackson immediately challenged Rush's assertion on the show in a cogent manner (which, if you've seen or read Tom Jackson's stuff, is amazing in itself). As i and others have said, if we fired or asked for the resignation of any sportscaster who said something mindbendingly stupid, we wouldn't have any (which might not be an entirely bad thing).

I think a big part of this is Rush's public perception as a right-wing dolt. I will admit that my immediate reaction was that his comment was racist; fortunately, some friends talked me down. It isn't a racist statement, but it's certainly a loaded statement because he's injecting race into the situation.

I also wonder if Rush's resignation was a bit of self-martyrization. He claimed that he did it because the other people on the show were being pressured about the whole thing, so he looks gallant by quitting: Let not my colleagues suffer on my behalf! I'm sure he can turn this event into another best-selling book.